minting

Minting is the process of producing coins for currency. Historically, minting referred to shaping metal blanks into standardized coins by striking them between engraved dies. The term has also been adopted for the creation of minted goods or commodities in other contexts, and in recent years it has become associated with digital assets created on blockchains.

In ancient and medieval times, rulers and city-states operated mints to control the money supply. Early coins were produced by hammering dies onto blank metal discs. Over time, the use of mechanized presses and standardized weight, fineness, and design elements led to more uniform coinage. Governments established official mints, often guarded facilities, and mint marks identified origin and authenticity.

Modern coin production combines automation with precision engineering. Planchets or blanks are prepared to exact weights and compositions; they are fed to coin presses where dies imprint designs and inscriptions under high pressure. Steps such as annealing, upsetting, and edge treatment are used to enhance durability and deter counterfeiting. Mints apply security features, quality control, and auditing, and circulating coins are distributed through commercial banks and government programs. Mint marks and inscriptions convey origin, denomination, and legal status. Seigniorage, the profit from issuing currency, remains a fiscal consideration for issuing authorities.

In the digital realm, minting describes the creation of new tokens or non-fungible tokens on a blockchain. Digital minting is governed by smart contracts and network rules, and it may involve costs such as transaction fees. While sharing terminology with physical coinage, digital minting serves different economic and legal functions.